BMC anesthesiology
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Case Reports
Rupture of an epidural filter connector during bolus administration of local anesthetic: a case report.
Epidural catheters are routinely placed for many surgical procedures and to treat various pain conditions. Known complications arising from epidural catheter equipment malfunction include epidural pump failure, epidural catheter shearing, epidural catheter connector failure, epidural filter connector cracking, and loss-of-resistance syringe malfunction. Practitioners need to be aware of these potentially dangerous complications and take measures to mitigate the chances of causing significant patient harm. We report on the complete breakage of an epidural filter connector during epidural bolus administration of local anesthetic by hand with a syringe. ⋯ This incident placed the patient and surrounding healthcare providers at substantial risk for injury and infection from the fractured epidural filter connector becoming a projectile object and from the local anesthetic spray. The most plausible cause of this event was from a large amount of pressure being applied to the filter connector. This may have occurred by excessive force being applied by hand to the syringe, by the presence of a clogged filter, or by the catheter being kinked or blocked proximal to the filter. Being aware of this deleterious complication and potentially modifying existing epidural bolus techniques, such as using smaller syringes with less applied force and checking all epidural components vigilantly prior to and during bolus administration, can help anesthesia providers deliver the safest possible care to patients with epidural catheters.
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Clinical Trial
Sufentanil EC50 for endotracheal intubation with aerosol inhalation of carbonated lidocaine by ultrasonic atomizer.
Nebulized lidocaine reduced stress response for endotracheal intubation. However, the impact of novel lidocaine aerosol inhalation for intubation by ultrasonic atomizer was unclear. Hence, we designed aerosol inhalation of lidocaine by ultrasonic atomizer, to seek whether the dosage of sufentanil for intubation could be less or not. ⋯ Aerosol inhalation of lidocaine by ultrasonic atomizer reduced the dosage of sufentanil for endotracheal intubation. Lidocaine inhalation by ultrasonic atomizer for airway anesthesia with minimal dosage of sufentanil could be recommended, particularly in patients who need more stable hemodynamic changes or spontaneous respiration.
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Although continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the first line treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients, the perioperative adherence rate is unclear. The objective of this study was to determine the perioperative adherence rate of patients with OSA with a CPAP prescription and the effect of adherence on nocturnal oxygen saturation. ⋯ Among patients with a preoperative CPAP prescription, approximately 50% were consistently adherent. CPAP adherence was associated with improved preoperative ODI and the benefit was maintained on N1. These modest effects may be underestimated by a higher severity of OSA in the CPAP adherent group and a higher rate of oxygen supplementation in the non-adherent group.
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Observational Study Retracted Publication
Routine point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) assessment of gastric antral content in traumatic emergency surgical patients for prevention of aspiration pneumonitis: an observational clinical trial.
Polytrauma patients are at a higher risk of delayed gastric emptying. To assess the gastric volume, a reliable diagnostic tool is needed to prevent the occurrence of aspiration pneumonia, which remains a serious complication associated with anesthesia. Gastric antral ultrasound can provide reliable information about the size of the gastric antrum in traumatized patients undergoing emergency surgery. ⋯ Ultrasound examination of the stomach in polytrauma patients allows assessing the size and type of stomach contents. The data obtained can influence the choice of anesthesia technique and reduce the risk of aspiration pneumonia.